Perhaps many Syrians do not know who Alice Kandalaft is. She is a Damascene girl, who later became the first diplomatic not only in Syria and the Arab world, but also in third world countries. This great Syrian woman had a special and remarkable presence in UN in 1940s. According to the documents recorded by the United Nations, Alice was distinguished as one of those active women who had proved during working for years in UN that she was a living example for those who believe in a cause and defend it with full force and solidity.

Alice was born in Damascus in 1895 to a known family, who lived in al-Qaymariya district in old Damascus.

She completed her preparatory study at the Orthodox Patriarchate School and then moved to Beirut where she studied high school at the Syrian Protestant College.

When we visited a Bazar held in Sheraton Damascus and talked to some participants and visitors, we heard several interesting and real stories about challenge, struggle, hope and frustration. Some of these stories show the strength  of woman and her determination to be an active person in society and to get money from small- or very small- business workshops.

Mrs. Lutfeyeh Shaloha, Executive Director of ‘Habbet Khardal’ Association for supporting women, told Syria Times e-newspaper that she alongside 14 women founded the association on July, 13, 2017.Their aim was to back women to make their own business in order to get money and to preserve their dignity.

“The idea of establishing the association was born when we saw women standing waiting in a long line for aid. We asked ourselves: why don't these women work to get money? We can hold free training courses for them and provide them with raw materials to produce handmade products and then to sell them,”  Mrs. Shaloha said, pointing out that the number of women registered in the association reached up to 500.